MUTILATION RITES - Harbinger

Harbinger, Mutilation Rites' newest album, is a good listen but not great. Blending elements of black and death metal, thrash, and even some punk at times this eight track full-length definitely has moments that'll make your head nod or there'll be a cool riff... But there's not that one moment where it's like "oh man, how gnarly was that?!".

The opening track "Black Pyramid" starts off the record with just a whirlwind of viciousness. It certainly sets the tone very, very well. The vocals took a bit to grow, but after a handful of listens they fit Harbinger's chaos. At times the shrieks and guttural screams sound as if they're coming from a man on the edge... Dangerous and crazed. The other aspect that jumped out to me was how savage the drumming is. The intensity compliments the hybrid hardcore-ish black metal shouts to create a very interesting listen.

Mutilation Rites really hits their stride in "Gravitational Collapse" (listen) with some killer riffs and then the balance of head banging thrash and black metal. Not saying the first couple tracks are a bore by any stretch but the last couple have a great flow. "Gravitational Collapse" into "Contaminate" (listen) is a serious one-two punch. "Suffer The Children" (listen) is solid too for that matter.

"Conspiracy Of Silence", the closer, has a wild and at times unpredictable sound that makes it really stand out. As the track progresses there's this feeling of "this thing is going off the rails" but Mutilation Rites harnesses the chaos and takes the listener on a dark helter-skelter trip.

The production on Harbinger was something that stood out, but after reading that it was recorded at Developing Nations and mastered by James Plotkin, I wasn't surprised. The guitar work is super clear and there's rarely a moment where something gets drowned out or lost in the background. There were moments throughout where I got the same vibe as l did on Full Of Hell's Rudiments Of Mutilation (review) - Bernsten did the recording and Plotkin did mastering on that record as well.

Whereas FOH utilized noise and created an awesome caustic atmosphere, there wasn't that stand out aspect on Harbinger. That's my only real criticism because otherwise it's a pretty solid listen but one that won't get too many repeated listens. That being said, seeing as this is just their second full-length Mutilation Rites is a band to keep an eye on. And "Contaminate" will get you head banging no matter the case. [Prosthetic]
- Evan Coonly